Raj

Rating:
Summary: A panoramic view of the Raj from a woman's perspective
Review: "Raj" is a very good novel that provides a panoramic view of the British India from the perspective of a wealthy woman. Mehta has provided a sympathetic narration about the life of the native princes and their family under the watchful eyes of the British. She also portrays the decadence that was brought to this anglican culture developed in India.

Rating:
Summary: A good book to keep yourself engaged for a few days
Review: A very good book for those who want an insight into India's past wrapped in a story. The book has been written in a very easy and flowing style. Often you are transported back in time during the age of the British and the Maharajas of India. Altogether the book is a pleasing experience but often the events in the book leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Rating:
Summary: British India and Royal India Under The Raj - Excellent!!
Review: Author Gita Mehta demonstrates her extraordinary grasp of the historical, political and cultural complexities of India, British and royal, under the Raj. She writes with realistic detail and subtlety about the period from Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee to the violent and bloody civil wars for independence. Ms Mehta brings her characters, both fictional and real, to life. She gives the reader a firsthand view of a maharajah's royal zenana, (harem), where women in purdah are guarded by corrupt eunuchs and she takes us to the battlefields of WWI along with Indian Calvary warriors. We witness Mahatma Gandhi march to the sea, with hundreds of thousands of his countrymen, to break British laws against making salt. And we witness, most vividly, India's struggle for independence and partition - from nationalist, royalist and British points of view. Gita Mehta brilliantly translates the cultural nuances and vividly sets her scenes of pageantry and poverty.

At the center of this epic novel is Jaya Singh, the only daughter of the Maharajah and Maharani of Balmer. She was raised in the thousand year-old tradition of purdah by her mother and was educated exactly like her royal brother, (Balmer's heir), according to her father's decision. She learned to play polo, hunt tiger and wild boar, and how to govern and lead. Jaya marries the jaded, westernized Maharajah of Sipur and finds herself in a history-making position.

I have always been fascinated by India, especially during the period of the British Raj. Usually, however, the focus of the books I have read has been on the Indian nationalist movements and those who supported and led them. This well researched novel also delves into the lives and politics of princely India. An engrossing read with a fresh perspective - I really enjoyed it.
JANA

Rating:
Summary: Percpective of an Indian Princess
Review: From all the reviews i've read of "Raj" I cant identify with any one of them and I think thats the same for all the other reviewers. I personally loved the story of "Raj". It was rich with vivid images and completely engrossed me from the day i started reading it. Unlike other reviewers, i did not find it the least bit slow but more like a movie that I didnt want to end.

Of course, for everything good there is always something negative. Even though the novel was generally wonderful the characters were not as sprightly as the images. There wasnt much character development that one could reflect upon at the end of the story. Even though the characters were a bit bland the style more than made up for it. A reader could feel the genuine and original knowledge of the subject with a strong sense of Indian culture. The end of the novel was not as good as the beginning. The final steps in the process that lead to Indian Independence and the description of what happened afterward was rushed compared to the beginning I felt as though there should have been more devoted to the second half because that part of the story was just as important and in some ways maybe more.

From Indian origin myself, the struggle of Jaya Devi, not only as an Indian princess but as a woman, fascinated me. The opinions that she had and would stand to hold on to filled me with a new degree of respect for Rajput women. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an interesting read and insight on the British Raj.

Rating:
Summary: A Treat of a Read
Review: Gita Mehta has written an eye-opening novel that exudes the sights, sounds and flavors of British-occupied India from the perspective of a prominent native. Few novelists - and no women, as far as I know - have attempted to piece together that dark piece of history as well as this talented author has. For those who are interested in rediscovering the plight of India during this turbulent time, this is the book to read. Bravo!

Rating:
Summary: an educative and entertaining work of historical fiction
Review: I enjoyed reading the "Raj". It is an impressive price of historical fiction that covers a very eventful period of Indian history. Mehta did an execellent job of painting a vivid and entertaining picture of Rajput kingdoms during the British rule in India. I was however, disappointed by the one dimentionality of the characters. The kings by and large seemed to fall into the stereotypical pleasure loving, wealth squandering lot that were obsessed with somehow hanging onto thier thrones. While this may be an accurate description of most of them, it would have been good to depict one or two positive aspects of the royals, if any! Jaya Devi's long suffering Indian princess character also sadly lacked dimentionality and did not evoke much sympathy or respect. I was also a little bit disappointed with the later part of the book that dealt with events leading upto the Indian indenpendence. It seemed a little rushed and I wish the author spent more time in describing the characters of the freedom fighters better. However, given the complexity of highly eventful period with the British, the Indian royalty and the freedom fighters, the author did a good job telling a compelling and educative narrative. On the whole, a recommended read.

Rating:
Summary: an educative and entertaining work of historical fiction
Review: I enjoyed reading the "Raj". It is an impressive price of historical fiction that covers a very eventful period of Indian history. Mehta did an execellent job of painting a vivid and entertaining picture of Rajput kingdoms during the British rule in India. I was however, disappointed by the one dimentionality of the characters. The kings by and large seemed to fall into the stereotypical pleasure loving, wealth squandering lot that were obsessed with somehow hanging onto thier thrones. While this may be an accurate description of most of them, it would have been good to depict one or two positive aspects of the royals, if any! Jaya Devi's long suffering Indian princess character also sadly lacked dimentionality and did not evoke much sympathy or respect. I was also a little bit disappointed with the later part of the book that dealt with events leading upto the Indian indenpendence. It seemed a little rushed and I wish the author spent more time in describing the characters of the freedom fighters better. However, given the complexity of highly eventful period with the British, the Indian royalty and the freedom fighters, the author did a good job telling a compelling and educative narrative. On the whole, a recommended read.

Rating:
Summary: Slow is right!
Review: I have to agree with those reviewers who said the book is slow moving. In fact, it's so slow that I never finished it! For that reason, my review may be limited in its usefulness, but I thought I would give my thoughts anyway. The main value of the book, as I saw it, is that it gives an insider's perspective on life in India. It's great for getting a feel for the Indian culture and mindset, and the views that Indians have toward the period of British rule.
However, after I had read about 7 chapters (50+ pages), it failed to keep my attention. It seemed that the author was just giving more and more background information. The reader is left waiting for some kind of plot or action to begin, but it never does. Maybe if I had read further my patience would have been rewarded; but unfortunately, I don't have that much patience.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I have ever read.
Review: I read Raj several times and then loaned
it to a friend. Since I haven't received
it back, I'm ordering it again so I can have
a copy of this excellent work in my library.
It was a moving, touching book which
opened my awareness to the plight of India during
that time period. Most of the royalty were
delightful and compassionate. Those who
weren't were nevertheless interesting.
Dee Lambert, Ph.D.

Rating:
Summary: excellent as history, good as literature
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book because I'm interested in the place and era. I also liked the fact that it was written by an Indian and a woman.

The story was shallow; more a vehicle for telling about the times in a way that would make it interesting to a larger group of readers than just those with eclectic taste. I found the character development lacking.

I enjoyed this story anyway and would recommend it to a Westerner with an interest in India's past. It was a quick, engrossing and exotic read.